Zack Snyder’s Epic Zombie Thriller ‘Dawn of the Dead’ Just Hit Netflix—Watch It Now

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The critically acclaimed Rotten Tomatoes film directed by Zack Snyder has now found its way onto Netflix. Fans can now watch the 2004 remake of George A. Romero’s horror masterpiece, “Dawn of the Dead,” which marks Snyder’s directorial debut and is considered one of his finest works outside the superhero genre.

Back in the 2000s remake wave, I, as a film enthusiast, found myself captivated by “Dawn of the Dead,” a masterpiece penned by none other than James Gunn, the brilliant mind behind “Guardians of the Galaxy” and DCU’s boss. This movie was a contemporary reimagining of George A. Romero’s legendary zombie sequel, offering a fresh coat of paint with enhanced production values, state-of-the-art special effects, and an adrenaline-pumping spin on the undead uprising.

In “Dawn of the Dead,” we join a group of survivors huddled within the safety of a shopping mall just as the zombie apocalypse unfolds. If you’re intrigued, here’s the official plot synopsis:

[Official Plot Synopsis of Dawn of the Dead]

In this rephrased version: “When her husband gets attacked by a zombified neighbor, Ana (Sarah Polley) manages to flee, but soon discovers her entire Milwaukee neighborhood is overrun with zombies. After being quizzed by a wary police officer Kenneth (Ving Rhames), Ana teams up with him and a small group who gather at the local shopping mall as a shelter. Once they convince skeptical security guards that they’re not infected, the group unites to battle the undead masses.

Released back in March 2004, the movie became a massive success among horror enthusiasts, generating approximately $100 million in revenue and earning Zack Snyder recognition as an emerging talent in filmmaking. It was well-received by critics too, with many appreciating its enhancements over the 1978 version. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a score of 77%, making it the only movie of Zack Snyder’s to bear the “Certified Fresh” label. Nonetheless, not everyone found it appealing. George A. Romero, the filmmaker himself, found it better than he anticipated but criticized its lean towards action rather than horror. He was not a fan of the fast-moving zombies, a characteristic introduced by Danny Boyle in 28 Days Later and extensively used by Snyder in Dawn of the Dead. At the time, Romero expressed his displeasure, stating, “I’m not afraid of things chasing me… There was nothing going on underneath.” The legendary filmmaker felt that it lacked depth.

Roger Ebert Called ‘Dawn of the Dead’ “Slicker & More Polished”

Renowned movie critic Roger Ebert expressed strong opinions about George A. Romero’s socially-commentary-laden adaptation of “Dawn of the Dead”. In his review of the ’70s horror masterpiece, he stated, “This is one of the best horror films ever made – and, unfortunately, one of the most horrifying.” Ebert further added about the 1978 zombie movie, “It’s gruesome, nauseating, disgusting, violent, brutal, and appalling. But wait, let me check my other list… it’s also brilliantly designed, witty, dry, and relentlessly merciless in its satirical portrayal of American consumer society. Art doesn’t always have to be tasteful.

In terms of Snyder’s remake, Ebert deemed it a well-crafted replica of the original classic and awarded it three stars (he had given the original four, his highest rating). Concerning other films by the same director, Ebert found 300 to be overly violent, but he bestowed four stars on Watchmen, praising it as a daring exploration of the superhero genre. Regarding Dawn of the Dead from 2004, he penned that review.

The comparison between the recent Dawn of the Dead remake and the 1978 George Romero original provides insight into how Hollywood has evolved in terms of finesse but lost some daring spirit. Technically, the new Dawn is more refined and polished, as well as boasting improved acting. However, it fails to capture the dark wit found in the Romero version. While both movies are primarily set inside a shopping mall, only Romero employs this setting for biting social commentary on consumerism.

Indeed, Dawn of the Dead lives up to its promise, but I must confess my disappointment lies in the plot’s simplicity compared to the 1979 original. The earlier version was filled with clever twists and intellectual depth that I found lacking here. George A. Romero had a knack for drawing intriguing parallels between zombies and consumers; in this remake, the mall serves merely as a practical setting.

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2025-05-05 18:02